Footpaths in the Stuff Swamp

This paper discusses stigmergy (i.e., the effect of communication through the environment) in relation to the Internet, especially with regard to World Wide Web-based learning. The paper begins by examining ways in which stigmergy occurs on the Web and then goes on to describe its use in the construction of a continually evolving system, CoFIND (Collaborative Filter In N Dimensions). CoFIND's purpose is to replace the role of a traditional teacher in structuring and selecting learning resources. It attempts to achieve this through a process of stigmergy and natural selection, leading to a degree of self-organization brought about through the independent actions and interactions of its individual users. The paper discusses the issues raised and explains some its successes and failings. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY